Professional Documents
Culture Documents
41 Guide Posts
Glimpses into various religious and spiritual topics in different scriptures
(Bashir Ahmad Orchard)
47 Evolution of Faith
A philosophical discourse on the essence of religion
(Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan(ra))
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Editorial
institutions can play the positive barrier to peace. Rather, it can and
role for the social and common should be a catalyst, with a clear
good. All religions have a reminder that for all our actions
common message of peace, so we are ultimately accountable to
why not capitalise on that noble God. We pray that mankind can
foundation to build harmonious benefit from the wisdom of the
and cohesive societies? The Qur’anic instruction to vie with
struggle for peace was every each other in good works, for it
prophet’s mission and there are certainly seems to be a powerful
many historical examples from antidote to the malaise engulfing
India to Andalusia (Spain) that Jos and many other regions in the
show that where people use their world today.
religious principles to advance the
cause of individual and collective
peace, societies have flourished. It
is relevant to note that on religious Reference
and social peace the Holy Qur’an 1. Open letter dated 21 January
states: 2010,
http://www.anglicandioceseofj
“... For each of you We os.org/UPDATE17.html Last
prescribed a clear spiritual accessed, 4 April 2010
Law and a manifest way in
secular matters. And if Allah
had enforced His will, He
would have made you all one
people, but He wishes to try
you by that which He has
given you. Vie, then, with one
another in good works. To
Allah shall you all return;
then will He inform you of
that wherein you differed.”
(Ch.5:V.49)
Thus religious difference is not a
In keeping with current universal practice, local transliterations of names of places are
preferred to their anglicised versions, e.g. Makkah instead of Mecca, etc.
Will also enable readers to submit letters and articles to the editor.
www.review of religions.org
been compiled this would not have Ahadith as vain and false as is the
affected the real teaching of Islam belief of Maulawi ‘Abdullah
for the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah Chakralvi. The Qur’an and
had fulfilled this need. The Sunnah should judge the Ahadith
Ahadith only added to that light and those that are not opposed to
and Islam became light upon light them should by all means be
and the Ahadith became accepted. This is the straight path
testimonies for the Qur’an and and blessed are those who follow
Sunnah. Of the many sects that it. Most unfortunate and foolish is
subsequently appeared in Islam, the person who rejects the Ahadith
the true one derived great benefit altogether without regard to the
from the true Ahadith. test that we have proposed.
the Book of Allah, but if we come with the Holy Qur’an, but if this is
across a Hadith which is opposed not possible and cannot by any
to the text of the Holy Qur’an, and means be achieved, he should
it cannot be interpreted in any regard the Hadith as spurious. This
other way, we would reject it as is better for us. We should seek an
spurious, inasmuch as God, the interpretation of a Hadith which is
Glorious, has said: In what not opposed to the Holy Qur’an,
discourse apart from Allah and but if this should not be possible it
His commandments will they would be heresy and disbelief that
believe? (Ch.45:V.7) we should give up the Qur’an for
the sake of Ahadith, which have
This means that if the Holy Qur’an been conveyed to us by human
is conclusive and positive about a hands and with regard to which it
matter and its meaning is clear, a is not only a possibility, but a
believer should not accept a Hadith certainty, that they have got mixed
which is clearly opposed to it. To up with human statements.
the same effect is the verse: In [Al-Haq, Mubahasa Ludhiana,
what thing will they believe Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol.4, p.21)
thereafter? (Ch.7:V186).
According to these verses a Authenticity of Ahadith
believer must accept the Book of The Ahadith are divided into two
Allah without condition and parts. One part is that which is
should accept a Hadith completely protected by practice,
conditionally. This is my stand. that is to say such Ahadith as are
[Al-Haq, Mubahasa Ludhiana, strengthened and are carrying the
Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol.4, pp.11-12) degree of certainty by the firm and
strong and certain method of
A person who is bestowed the practice, and which are
understanding of the Qur’an by comprehensive of all religious
Divine grace, and who finds that a needs and worship and covenants
Hadith is opposed to a verse of the and dealings and the
Qur’an, should, out of respect, so commandments of the law. Such
far as it is possible, so interpret the Ahadith are doubtless certain and
Hadith as to bring it into accord are fully proved. The strength of
these Ahadith is not derived from religion; for if it were true that
the art of compilation of Hadith, with the exception of the Holy
nor from their inherent force, nor Qur’an all other sources are false,
from the reliability of and imposture, conjectures and
confidence in their narrators, but is imagination, then little would be
bestowed by the blessings of left of Islam for all the details of
practice. I accept these Ahadith so our faith have come down to us
far as they are supported by through Ahadith. Our Prayer
practice up to a certain degree of services have been made
certainty. But the other portions of obligatory by the Holy Qur’an, but
Ahadith which are not related to it is nowhere laid down in the
practice and are accepted on the Qur’an that the Dawn Prayer
basis of the truthfulness of their (Fajr) comprises two rak’as of
narrators are not held by me as Fard and two rak’as of Sunnah,
being beyond the status of and the Noon Prayer (Zuhr)
conjecture. At the most they can be comprises four rak’as of Fard
employed as useful conjecture (Obligatory Prayers) and four and
inasmuch as the manner in which then two rak’as of Sunnah, and the
they have been compiled is not Sunset Prayer (Maghrib)
certain and conclusive, but leaves comprises three rak’as of Fard
room for perversion. and the Evening Prayer (‘Isha)
[Al-Haq, Mubahasa Ludhiana, comprises four rak’as of Fard. In
Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 4, p.35] the same way, we have to depend
upon Ahadith to discover the
An objector hears from someone details of Zakat. There are
that the Ahadith are not reliable thousands of details relating to
and he immediately concludes worship and dealings and
therefrom that with the exception covenants which are derived from
of the Holy Qur’an all other the same source. Besides, the
authorities in Islam are baseless principal source of Islamic history
and doubtful and fall far short of is Ahadith. If Ahadith are not to be
certainty and conclusiveness. This relied upon you cannot take it as
is a great mistake, the first result of certain that Abu Bakr and ‘Umar
which is to destroy faith and and ‘Uthman and ‘Ali (may Allah
only on the basis of a few Ahadith. lack certainty and would deserve
This is a clear error. The practice whatever condemnation might be
which the Holy Prophet(saw) had directed at it. Such Ahadith have
established with his own hands, no great relationship with faith in
had become so common among the history of Islam. If you look
millions of people that even if with care you will find that the
there had been no trace of the Imams of Ahadith have very
compilers of Ahadith, no harm seldom mentioned Ahadith no
would have been done. Everyone trace of which is found in practice.
has to admit that the Holy Teacher It is, therefore, not true, as some
and Prophet(saw) had not so ignorant ones imagine, that the
confined his teaching as to train world has learnt of the hundreds of
only a few people in it and to leave matters relating to the faith, even
all others unaware of it. Had that fasting and Prayer services, only
been so, Islam would have been so from the Ahadith compiled by
corrupted that it could not have Bukhari and Muslim and others.
been reformed through the efforts Were the Muslims without faith for
of any compiler of Hadith. The a century and a half? Did they not
Imams of Ahadith have compiled perform the Prayer services? Did
thousands of Ahadith relating to they not pay Zakat? Did they not
religious instruction, yet there is no perform the Pilgrimage? Were they
Hadith which was not being acted unaware of the Islamic doctrines
upon before its being recorded and that are mentioned in the Ahadith?
which was not known to the world. Certainly not.
If there is any teaching, or event, [Shahadat-ul-Qur’an, Ruhani
or doctrine the foundation of Khaza’in, Vol.6, pp.298-303]
which has only been laid by the
Imams of Hadith on the basis of
some report and no sign of it is
discoverable in practice, nor is it
mentioned in the Holy Qur’an,
then without doubt such a report
which became known a century
and a half later, would absolutely
How many matters are there that The strange thing, as I mentioned
are presented in such an before, is that they were not loyal
institution that was constituted to their own principles.
after the Second World War so
that the world could be saved Loyalty is borne from feelings of
from the horrors of war in future, love and affection. At a personal
where the major powers accept level the feeling of love
criticism against themselves and strengthens the feelings of
where they admit their own loyalty. When a citizen loves his
mistakes? country then he exhibits
allegiance and makes sacrifices
The decision of not admitting for the sake of the nation.
one’s own error was taken at that
time when the United Nations If sentiments of love do not exist,
was formed and a provision for then the spirit of sacrifice cannot
veto power was granted to the be formed. Unless a person loves
five major powers. The another he can never have good
fundamental requirement for feelings in his heart towards him
justice of even giving evidence and he cannot faithfully fulfil the
against oneself was denied. How rights due to that person.
can this institute establish justice?
gambling was changed into open like a book, knew that with
passion for prayer and fasting. the improvement in the state of
Their nightly carousels were humanity, the needs and
abandoned in favour of vigils and requirements of mankind would
prayers, and their morning bouts undergo a corresponding
were changed to praise and improvement. He knew also what
thanksgiving. From the lowest kind of law would be required to
depths of moral and spiritual meet the ever-changing and ever-
degradation they were raised to progressing condition of man and
the highest pinnacles of spiritual He had the power and the
eminence. From wandering knowledge to reveal such a law
nomads and marauding bandits and indeed He has revealed that
they left their indelible print on law and that is the Holy Qur’an.
the civilisation of the world. From Nor is this an empty claim. The
the dregs and scum of society they experience of the last 1300 years
became the teachers and has proved its validity because it
educators of mankind. Surely is based on principles which are
such a marvellous change could in keeping with human nature.
not be effected save by a true
Messenger of God. Indeed, many Human nature is clearly outside
people in the same conditions the sphere of change. It is not
failed to accomplish what the amenable to the law of progress
Holy Prophet(saw) achieved. and is as permanent as man
himself. The social and inter-
But what above all gives the national law of Islam and its
Qur’an a universal and permanent moral teachings are as unerring a
character is its teaching. It is, as I guide today as they were 13
have proved, the true Word of centuries ago. The manner in
God. God has ordained it to be the which the Holy Qur’an leads the
guide of mankind for all ages and spiritual wayfarer to the Eternal
in all circumstances. Man, no City is as infallible as ever. The
doubt, is progressing and his claim of the Holy Qur’an, “If you
conditions change every day, but love Allah then follow me, Allah
God, to Whom the future lies will love you” (Ch.3:V.32) holds
it from Him, Thirdly, there must result of the life we lead in this
be unity in the love, sincerity and world. The deeds done by man in
devotion which he bears to God; this life will appear in an
in other words, nothing else must embodied form in the next. The
share in his love and devotion Holy Qur’an says: “The deeds of
towards God, nor in any of the man remain attached to him and
other aspects of his adoration, are never separated from him.
and he must be completely lost in Although their efforts are hidden,
Him on the Day of Judgment we will
turn them, as it were, into the
With regard to the life after death, form of a book which may be read
the Holy Qur’an teaches us that by him.”
man’s life has a purpose higher
than and beyond that of mere The Christians claim the same
eating and drinking and leading a universality and permanence for
more or less confined existence in the teachings of the Gospels as
this world. Man has been the Muslims do for the teachings
vouchsafed eternal life and the of the Holy Qur’an, but the
avenues of eternal progress have Gospels of Jesus Christ(as) never
been thrown open to him. Hence lay claim to universality nor did
there must be a life after this God take upon Himself their pro-
limited and confined life to tection against corruption and
achieve that unending progress. interpolations to which they have
Islam teaches us that there is a life indeed unhappily already been
after death and that that life is the subjected. Jesus Christ(as) was not
continuation of the life we lead on a law giving prophet. “Think
earth. What we call death is only not,” he says, “that I am come to
the flight of the soul from the destroy, but to fulfil. For, verily I
body when it becomes unfit to say unto you, till heaven- and
march with it along the path of earth pass, one jot or one tittle
that eternal and unlimited shall in no wise pass from the law,
progress for which the soul has till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew
been created. The next life is a life 5:17-8). Jesus Christ(as) gave no
of unlimited progress, and is the law, hence his Gospels cannot be
compared with the Holy Qur’an, their ways. It has been said in the
which is a complete code of Gospels that you should bless
social, moral and spiritual laws. them that curse you (Matthew
Jesus(as) gave a few moral precepts 5:44) but the Holy Qur’an forbids
intended for the Jews for the time you to bless or curse any one of
in which they were given. your own volition, but orders you
first to consult your heart (which
In support of this contention I is the habitation of the glorious
give below a few moral precepts manifestations of Divinity) as to
from the Gospels and with them the manner in which you should
corresponding precepts from the deal with a person and act accord-
Holy Qur’an, leaving it to readers ing to the guidance of the voice of
to judge for themselves which are God that speaks within you. If
more practical and practicable. you find that such a person is not
cursed in heaven, you must
It has been said in the Gospels sympathise with him, lest in
that you should love your cursing him you oppose the will
enemies (Matthew 5:44), but the of God. But if the dictates of your
Holy Qur’an bids you have no conscience lead you to the
enemies in obedience to your own conclusion that he is not
desires, and enjoins that your excusable, you should not bless
sympathy should extend to all. him, as no prophet of God has
Your enemies should be only such ever blessed Satan. But neither
as are the enemies of your God, must you be rash in cursing
your Prophet(saw) and the Word of anybody, for many suspicions are
God. Invite even these to the right false and many a curse rebounds
path and pray for them. You on to a man’s own head.
should bear no enmity to
individuals, but you should It has been said in the Gospels
express displeasure at their evil that when you pray, you should go
deeds. into your closet (Matthew 6:6),
but the Holy Qur’an says to you
Let all your efforts be to reclaim that you should not always pray in
these men and make them amend secret, but occasionally you must
pray before men and in the you that you should not only
congregations of your brethren so suppress your own anger, but also
that when your prayer is accepted advise others to suppress their
it may increase their faith and anger and that you should not
your example may lead them to only be merciful yourselves, but
pray to God. should also advise your brethren
to show mercy to others.
The Gospels praise those who are
poor, meek and lowly, and those It has been said in the Gospels
who are persecuted and resist not that you should not drink to
the evil, but the Holy Qur’an says excess (Eph 5:18), but the Holy
to you that humility, meekness Qur’an forbids you to drink wine
and non-resistance of evil are, no at all, for if you do so you shall
doubt, commendable virtues, but not find the way of God, nor will
if displayed on the wrong He speak to you, nor purge your
occasion, they become evils. Your hearts of impurities.
good deeds, therefore, should be
marked by the propriety of the The above are a few examples of
occasion, for every virtue the moral precepts from the
degenerates into a vice if not teachings of the Holy Qur’an and
shown on the proper occasion. the Gospels and it requires no
great intelligence to find out
It has been said in the Gospels which of the two are more akin to
that you should not swear, i.e. reason and more practical and
take oaths in the name of God, at practicable.
all (Matthew 5:34), but the Holy
Qur’an prohibits you only from
vain taking of oaths, for in some
cases it is necessary to administer
an oath to bind a decision. It has
been said in the Gospels that you
should not be angry with your
brother without a cause (Matthew
5:22), but the Holy Qur’an says to
During the course of prescribed A firm believer looks upon all trials
prayers a Muslim implores God as blessings in disguise which he can
many times a day to guide and turn to good account with the help of
entrench him on the right path. He God. He sails through them as the
should not become negligent or ocean liner sails through the storm
despondent if at times his prayers proving its sea-worthiness. He is not
seem to go unanswered or his disheartened but remains steadfast in
religious enthusiasm seems to be faith remembering the words of God
reduced. He should persevere and in the Holy Qur’an:
sooner or later he will taste the fruit
of his consistency in faith. Even As for those who say, ‘Our Lord
those very close to God sometimes is Allah,’ and then remain
pass through periods when the steadfast, the angels descend on
enjoyment of prayer and the pleasure them, saying: ‘Fear ye not, nor
of divine experience lessons. On this grieve; and rejoice in the garden
matter Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam that you were promised. We are
Ahmad(as) the Promised Messiah and your friends in this life and in the
Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Hereafter. Therein you will have
movement in Islam has commented: all that your souls will desire,
and therein you will have all that
Man is tried in devious ways for his ...Verily the most honourable
own good. They are means of growth amongst you in the sight of Allah
in spiritual stamina. All who would is he who is most righteous
advance on the right path must be among you...
prepared to face adverse circum- (Ch.49:V.14)
stances which with patience and
steadfastness, may be converted into ...The best provision is right-
spiritual gems. eousness... (Ch.2:V.198)
dust and ashes which have This brief and rather vague
assumed the appearance of stone outline of the process through
and mortar that must be washed which each of us must pass in
away. And when we look deeper order to solve for ourselves the
into our soul we are able to vital problem with which we are
discern already the broad sure, sooner or later, to be con-
foundations laid of a glorious fronted, is bound to give rise to
palace wherein we are provided misgivings and misconceptions,
with every species of comfort. and I must, therefore, before
Let us extract, therefore, proceeding further, make an
whatever there is of real worth attempt to remove some of the
in the old building and let it be more obvious of them.
used for the rearing of the new,
but we have to take care that the I have, so far, laid stress on the
material that we use in the necessity for each individual to
construction of the latter is examine and justify his beliefs;
sound and eternally durable, for to discard those that are un-
in this dwelling we will have to tenable and to adopt those that
reside unto eternity. have become necessary. How is
the object which God has else’s. For if this is not so, the
appointed for man on earth; this whole enquiry will be futile. If I
would include the possibility am to surrender my judgement
and nature of Revelation and to another, then the conclusion
Prophethood. For this purpose at which I have arrived is
one would rely upon the evi- somebody else’s faith and not
dence of one’s own senses, that mine. It cannot provide me with
is to say, one’s own observation any motive power, it cannot
of the Universe, one’s personal prompt or check the workings of
experiences, and the innate con- my mind, the operations of my
sciousness planted in each will, and consequently cannot
individual self, also on the have the slightest effect upon
evidence furnished by the my actions.
reliable experiences of others,
whether recorded or related The next stage of the enquiry
orally, the teachings of will be for a man to realise, as
scriptures and the guidance far as it is possible for him to do,
afforded by living preceptors. his own nature; that is to say, the
All this, however, would merely nature of his soul, the relation of
con-stitute the materials, the the body to the soul, how they
data, on which our judgement is act and react upon each other
to be based, but the judgement and how the functions of the one
must be ours and not somebody must be co-ordinated to the
The Golden Temple, also known as 1803 Amritsar was included in the
Harmandir Sahib and God’s Temple, dominion of the Sikh king, Maharaja
is located in the northern Punjab city Ranjit Singh and under his rule the
of Amritsar, India. It is an important temple was redesigned and rebuilt
place of worship and pilgrimage for giving it its present day look. It was
members of the Sikh faith. It made into an intricate marble
remains open to visitors and structure with a gilt roof and upper
pilgrims alike 24 hours a day, all storey.
year round. The temple houses the
sacred scripture of the Sikhs, the Architecture
Guru Granth Sahib. The Golden Temple is named so
because of its gilt roof and upper
History and Significance storey. What is striking about the
Guru Baba Nanak (1469-1539), architecture is the way it appears to
founder of Sikhism, used to retreat sit on a pool of water; the entire
to the Amritsar area for prayers and building, including its gold
meditation. He sought the peace and shimmering roof, is reflected in the
seclusion of the small forest lake Amrit Sarovar (Pool of Nectar).
here. After his demise his disciples
continued to frequent the site and An underground spring feeds this
over time it became an important man-made lake and pilgrims
shrine. The fourth Guru, Sri Ram immerse themselves in the pool as a
Das Ji, purchased the surrounding symbolic cleansing of the soul. The
lands, and in 1577 he began work on Pool of Nectar is in turn surrounded
the construction of a personal by a number of majestic domed-roof
residence and a man-made lake, the buildings which form part of the
Amrit Sarovar, on which the Golden temple complex.
Temple sits. The town flourished
and in January 1588 a Muslim saint, The temple is a two storey square
Sain Mian Mir, laid the foundation marble structure. The upper walls
stone of the Golden Temple. The and the roof are covered with gold-
fifth master of the Sikhs, Sri Guru leafed copper sheets. The roof is
Arjan Dev Ji, initiated its con- domed with minarets in all four
struction that took thirteen years. corners – a Muslim influence. The
four doors of the temple symbolise
Originally it was a mud structure. In its openness to people from all
corners of the earth: north, south, mirrored ceiling and mirrored walls
east and west. and a square opening in the floor
that looks down onto the lower level.
To enter the sanctuary one has to
walk through the arched Darshani Outer Buildings and Activities
Darwaza onto a walkway over the The Nectar Pool is surrounded by a
Pool of Nectar. The other end of the number of edifices one of which is a
walkway ends at the north door of community kitchen (langar). The
the temple. langar is a tradition started by Guru
Nanak himself and one which
The temple houses the Adi Granth continues today. Food is served there
(the first book), which is a free of charge, 24 hours a day to
compilation of Sikh scriptures in the anyone who requests it. Niwas, or
Gurmukhi script (Gurmukhi is an inns take up a significant portion of
archaic version of the Punjabi the complex. These are lodgings;
language). The Adi Granth is also some free of charge, others levy a
known as the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. fee for people requiring temporary
On its 1430 pages are various accommodation. A Sikh museum
devotional hymns describing God’s and Sikh library form part of the
attributes. In October 1708 Guru compound.
Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh master,
declared the text to be his successor The Sri Guru Granth Sahib is recited
thereby terminating the human line at a minimum of 35 different places
of Sikh Gurus and investing the text in the complex. Each reading takes
as the eleventh and final Guru. In 48 hours and is carried out by a
fact, the Guru Granth Sahib is number of people in a series of
considered a ‘juristic person’ by the shifts. At night the Guru Granth
Supreme Court of India. Sikhs Sahib is housed in the Akal Takht
believe that it contains guidance on (Divine Throne) that is directly
all moral and religious questions for opposite the main gate to the temple.
all times to come. The Akal Takht is also traditionally
the place for assembly and from
The Guru Granth Sahib is placed on where edicts and guidance are
the ground floor of the temple issued.
underneath a jewel-studded canopy.
The upper storey of the temple has a
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